Articles to LIFT Your Family

If you’ve created an estate plan, it likely includes traditional wealth and assets like finances, real estate, personal property, and family heirlooms. But unless your plan also includes your digital assets, there’s a good chance this online property will be lost forever following your death or incapacity. What’s more, even if these assets are included […]

How to Fix Errors in Your Credit Report

by Alexis Neely 9 Nov 2018

While some of those TV commercials for free credit-score report companies are pretty funny, having errors on your credit report is no laughing matter. Indeed, your credit score is one of the main factors determining your access to loans, credit cards, housing, and sometimes even jobs. From late payments that were actually made on time […]

Questions and Answers About Personal Liability Umbrella Insurance

by Alexis Neely 21 Sep 2018

It’s no secret that we live in a litigious society. And though our right to a fair trial is one of the hallmarks of American democracy, it has also led to a lawsuit-crazy culture. In this atmosphere, you’re at near-constant risk for costly lawsuits, many times even when you’ve done nothing wrong. This is especially […]

Don’t Transfer Ownership of Your House to Your Kids Before You Read This

by Alexis Neely 7 Sep 2018

With the cost of long-term care (LTC) skyrocketing, you may be concerned about your (or your elderly parents’) ability to pay for lengthy stays in assisted living and/or a nursing home. Such care can be massively expensive, with the potential to overwhelm even the well-off. Because neither traditional health insurance nor Medicare will pay for […]

Donate to a Charitable Remainder Trust For Tax and Income Benefits

by Alexis Neely 6 Jul 2018

If you have highly appreciated assets like stock and real estate you want to sell, it may make sense to use a charitable remainder trust (CRT) to avoid income and estate taxes—all while creating a lifetime income stream for yourself or your family AND supporting your favorite charity. A CRT is a “split-interest” trust, […]

Safeguard Your Cryptocurrency Assets With Estate Planning

by Alexis Neely 1 Jun 2018

One of the biggest appeals of cryptocurrency, like Bitcoin, is that it is decentralized, unregulated, and anonymous. There are no financial institutions controlling it, and unless you tell someone you own digital currency, it remains a secret. When it comes to estate planning, however, that kind of secrecy can be disastrous. In fact, without the […]

I Don’t Have Kids, So Why Do I Need Estate Planning? Part 2

by Alexis Neely 25 May 2018

Last week, we shared the first part of our series on the importance of estate planning for those without children. If you haven’t read it yet, you can do so here. Here in part two, we discuss the other risks involved for those who forego estate planning. Someone will have power over your health care […]

I Don’t Have Kids, So Why Do I Need Estate Planning? Part 1

by Alexis Neely 18 May 2018

It’s a common misconception to think that if you don’t have children, you don’t need to worry about estate planning. But the fact is, it can be even MORE important to do estate planning if you have no children. Some of the common thoughts behind this mistaken belief may take one of these forms: “If […]

Today, we live in an uber-connected world, where nearly every type of financial transaction—shopping, banking, investment management—can be made online using a computer or mobile device. In light of this, it’s critically important to have the appropriate safeguards in place to reduce the risk of fraud and identity theft, especially for your senior parents. Because […]

The Key Differences Between Wills and Trusts

by Alexis Neely 13 Apr 2018

When discussing estate planning, a will is what most people think of first. Indeed, wills have been the most popular method for passing on assets to heirs for hundreds of years. But wills aren’t your only option. And if you rely on a will alone to pass on what matters, you’re guaranteeing your family has […]

Choosing the Right Life Insurance Policy

by Alexis Neely 9 Mar 2018

While purchasing life insurance may seem pretty straightforward, it’s actually quite complex, especially with so many different types available. In order to offer some clarity on the different types of policies out there, we’ve broken down the most popular kinds of life insurance here and discussed the pros and cons that come with each one. […]